The government has reaffirmed its exclusive control over the Kasafoni iron ore deposit in Tonkolili District, rejecting claims by private interests, including the Gento Group, that they hold valid mining rights. The Ministry of Information said in a June 11 public notice that the deposit—under law and statute—belongs solely to the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation (SLMMDC). Any agreements made outside the legal framework are “invalid and have no legal effect.”
In 2024, Sierra Leone’s mining sector generated US$1.2 billion worth of exports. However, government coffers benefited marginally—only $8–9 million in tax revenue and some $50 million from non-tax sources including royalties and licensing—all far below the value the nation produced. Iron ore alone accounted for 70% of exports, with the bulk procured by foreign firms like Kingho Mining and Marampa Mines.  
This disparity is symptomatic of Sierra Leone’s broader economic challenges. Despite abundant natural resources, the country often remains impoverished, with wealth diverted through skewed agreements, profit shifting, and weak enforcement.   The International Monetary Fund notes that generous tax exemptions and lowered royalties in mining contracts have resulted in billions in potential revenue lost to investors instead of benefiting public infrastructure or communities. 
Civil society groups and independent audits have flagged systemic corruption across mining deals. The industry’s lack of transparency has enabled smuggling, bribes, and illicit exportation of precious minerals, including diamonds during the civil war.  Mining licenses have sometimes been struck behind closed doors, bypassing Parliament and sidelining affected communities—leaving villages devastated and officials enriched.
A notable example: the Koidu diamond mine was handed to mercenary-linked firms during the war, with questionable financial benefit to the state. 
In mineral-rich locales, local residents report environmental degradation, loss of farmlands, and persistent poverty. Even in incidents where rare finds like the 709-carat Peace Diamond held promise for community uplift, delayed development and unmet commitments reinforced public skepticism. 
At Marampa, one of Sierra Leone’s largest iron ore operations, disputes over royalties led to mine closures—turning once-bustling towns like Lunsar into ghost towns and cutting vital export revenue. 
While the government’s notice formally reasserts control over Kasafoni, it does little to address deeper structural issues:
• Secretive licensing processes continue to deny meaningful oversight by communities or Parliament.
• Generous tax concessions continue to funnel wealth away from national benefit into investors’ pockets.
• Weak enforcement allows illicit operations and environmental damage to persist unchecked.
Sierra Leone’s affirmation of ownership over the Kasafoni deposit is a symbolic step—but if elite networks and external companies continue to extract value while communities suffer, the fight for resource justice remains far from over. For Kasafoni to benefit the people, the government must pair legal clarity with accountability, transparent contracts, and genuine community empowerment.
